Grave box cover



Sept. 1, 1931. 1 P, i-LARNER v. 1,821,635

GRAVE Box COVER Filed Feb.' 13, i929 v Y Jg a @Wo-www.

Patented Sept. 1, 1931 narran srA'rss PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH P. HARNER, OF NEVADA, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM F. NORMAN, OF NEVADA, 'MISSOURI GRAVE Box COVER Application filed February 13, 1929. Serial No. 339,680.

This invention relates to a cover for grave boxes, one of the objects being to provide a strong sheet metal cover that can readily be placed ina grave above the .bo-x containing the casket and, when subjected to pressure, can be expanded laterally, thereby to dig into the walls of the grave and support the cover in an arched position over the box where it will support the weight of the soil deposited thereon and serve as a protection for the box.

Another object is to provide a cover of this character which can be used in graves of different widths, it being possible to form the cover of several like sections each of which is made in a single piece.

l/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides 1n certain novel details of construct-ion and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes inay be made within the scope of the claim without departingV from the spirit'of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings y Figure l is a top plan view of the cover.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section through a grave showing the cover therein prior to being expanded laterally.

, Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the cover expanded into engagement with the walls of the grave. e

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designatesa section of the grave cvover formed preferably but not necessarily of galvanized sheet rnetal. Said section is provided at its center with a longitudinally extending, transversely bowed rib 2 and from opposite sides of the rib the plate is curved downwardly and laterally to diverging side flanges 3. The curved portions of the plate.

are reinforced by ribs or corrugations 4 extending fporn the rib V2 to the respective flanges 3. Thus while the plate is substantially rigid between rib 2 and flanges 3 it is free to flex along said rib.

In practice a sufficient number of plates l are used to extend throughout the lengthof a grave while the plates are in lapped relation as shown in Figures l and 2. After the box B has been placed in position, the plates are arranged thereabove so as to completely cover it, the flanges 3 being supported by the side portions of the box. Thereafter downward pressure is exerted upon the plates and they will bend along the ribs 2. This will result in the lateral spreading of the plates and the-flanges 3 will therefore dig into the adjacent walls of the grave as shown in FigureV 4, thereby providing a sturdy support for soil deposited in the grave and also serving to protect the box, as will be obvious.

TWhat is claiined is:-

A grave box cover including separate meinbers having superposed end portions for1ning a lap joint, each of said members including a single plate of metal arched transversely and including longitudinal earthengaging supporting flanges at the sides of therplate, a transversely arched rib pressed from the plate andextending along the longitudinal center of the plate, and stiftening ribs pressed from the table between the longitudinal rib and the flanges, providing grooves, those portions of the longitudinal rib and stiffening ribs at one end of one plate being nested snugly within the corresponding ribs on the lapping portion of the other plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaiiixed my signature.

JOSEPH P. HARNER.

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